publisher: Roaring Brook Press
date published: March 30, 2010
format: ebook
pages: 277
source: purchased
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
From Goodreads:
IN THE ENCLAVE, YOUR SCARS SET YOU APART, and the newly born will change the future.
Sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone and her mother faithfully deliver their quota of three infants every month. But when Gaia’s mother is brutally taken away by the very people she serves, Gaia must question whether the Enclave deserves such loyalty. A stunning adventure brought to life by a memorable heroine, this dystopian debut will have readers racing all the way to the dramatic finish.
What I Thought
When I first started to read Birthmarked, I had no idea what I was in for. For starters, the description above doesn't do the book justice. There is so much more to the plot than these words can ever give a glimpse of. The question of deserved loyalty is only a small part of the questions that make up this book. With Birthmarked, you can expect themes such as reproductive rights, the level of influence a governing body should have over those under its care, and what is allowed in the interest of the better good. This evocative novel kept me frantically reading chapter after chapter just so I could find out what was to happen next. The writing found within this book is well-expressed, riveting, and thought-provoking. There is no reason not to read it.
Gaia is an absolutely phenomenal character. She has amazing traits, along with some flaws that she will be led to face and overcome in order to deal with her predicament. At times, it becomes difficult to remember that she is only 16. She comes across as much older than her years when in sticky situations. You can't help but admire her spirit. At the same time, she can be naive and stubborn, which makes for further complications to situations that are already difficult. This is one of the aspects of the story that I really liked. At no point was I able to predict what would happen next, which I find to be fantastic. This especially came in handy when it came to Leon, one of the soldiers for the Enclave. I didn't think much of him at first, but it soon became apparent that he would have a role to play in the story. As more of his past and personality were revealed, he became more and more intriguing and I looked forward to seeing what his fate would be. The Enclave and the surrounding village of Wharfton were such contrasts in scenery, yet they both had an air of bleakness that served to remind me just how dire the situation in this world is. Survival is the number one priority, meaning that extremes are gone to to insure that it is able to occur. Such is heavily wrapped up in the themes of how far is to far and how much right does a government have over the bodily rights of its people. It all made for a very stunning and absorbing book, one that I couldn't read fast enough, yet wanted more of as soon as I finished.
Having been completely carried away by Birthmarked, I couldn't pick up Prized fast enough. In fact, I started reading it as soon as I finished Birthmarked. This story has so many layers and nuances that there is always something to consider. There are no lulls, no lags, and no glaring plot holes, which makes for a seamless, wonderfully riveting read. Fans of The Hunger Games would do well to pick this one up. While it has different themes within, the world building and prose are very well done and imaginative. If you are looking for a good dystopian, this is a fantastic offering that you simply must read.
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